Exclusive: Listen to Lucero's Live Cut of 'Texas & Tennessee'

Plus Ben Nichols talks about writing an honest heartbreak ballad

Working out a difficult situation with a woman through chords and country licks can be a scenario in which a man reveals too much. Balancing nostalgia, logic, the truth, and a torn and bleeding heart with steel-strung ballads involves a delicate touch, one that does your love story — however epic, normal, or totally crazy it may be — and your music justice without careening into a sentimental ditch. Nobody likes groveling. Pleas for reconciliation and rose-colored rear-views do nothing for the audience or your feelings, and at the end of the day, a strong love song is one that's true. The purpose of a ballad is to tell a story, not inspire a Lifetime movie. And the reason behind it all is to write something that a certain someone will listen to at just the right moment, even if the words that string the song together are a little tough to hear.

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Lucero won't be soundtracking or inspiring a Lifetime flick anytime soon because they've figured it out. Without overdosing on twang and melodrama, the alternative country outfit have lost their voices, cracked the skin on their fingertips, and nearly worn out the heels of their boots performing these brutally honest songs since 1998, and their first live record, Lucero: Live from Atlanta (out August 12), embraces their hard-livin' live show with ease. You won't find a cheesy pop country breakdown or artificial theatrics on this stage. We've got the live cut of "Texas & Tennessee," a tale of love lost over long distances, and Lucero singer/guitarist Ben Nichols talked to us about writing, the road, and the cutting verse that came from it.

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ESQUIRE.COM: I love that "Texas & Tennessee" is a ballad with grit and gusto, and it definitely sounds like a love song born from your life on the road. You released this last year on an EP of the same name. Where were you when you wrote this? What inspired it?

BEN NICHOLS: I wrote "Texas & Tennessee" about a girl I fell in love with. Obviously, like the song says, she was from Texas. I live in Tennessee. She moved to California. If you listen to the lyrics, it's not hard to put it all together. I hadn't been in love in a long time. I was actually concerned I might not have those kinds of feelings left in me. But when a girl like that comes into your life all of a sudden, those feelings are all too apparent. And she gave me a run for my money.

ESQ: Which line of "Texas & Tennessee" proved to be the biggest challenge to write?

BN: The whole song was written around one line: "You don't have to tell me what it feels like to not be in love." That was it. We all know what it feels like to not be in love. And having someone tell you how that feels... Yeah... You know it already.

ESQ: At what point in your live show does "Texas & Tennessee" come up? Do you bring things down with it later on, or do we get this dose of sincerity early on in the evening?

BN: We usually play it about the sixth or seventh song. We kinda try to time it to where people are just getting used to the way we sound, but haven't gotten sick of us yet. That's when we try to play the good ones.

ESQ: Does the open road facilitate the writing of ballads like these? What is it about the life of a musician — not necessarily the music itself — that really cultivates these kinds of stories?

BN: Not for everyone. I've known a bunch of extremely talented guys that write amazing songs who are on the road all the time, and they can make it work. They have a family and can be a hundred-percent involved and attentive and live for nothing else other than their family, and they can still play in a band, and it works out. It's not easy. Me? Eh. We'll see. Yeah. I'll keep writing these songs.

ESQ: "Texas & Tennessee" is about heartbreak but it isn't too sappy and emotional. How have you learned to write a ballad that strikes a chord without getting caught up in soap opera-worthy dialogue? Is it difficult?

BN: It's all in the editing. I can't write songs when I'm drunk. I can write down ideas. But when it comes to putting the songs together... yeah... You know what sounds drunk and stupid and what doesn't.

ESQ: You're released your first live album. Why a live album, and why now?